Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Job outlook for dental laboratory technicians in the United States
Dental laboratory technician job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected dental laboratory technician job growth rate is 2% from 2018-2028.
About 1,400 new jobs for dental laboratory technicians are projected over the next decade.
Dental laboratory technician salaries have increased 12% for dental laboratory technicians in the last 5 years.
There are over 23,338 dental laboratory technicians currently employed in the United States.
There are 60,024 active dental laboratory technician job openings in the US.
The average dental laboratory technician salary is $55,271.
Are dental laboratory technician jobs in demand?
Dental laboratory technician job and salary trends over time
Dental laboratory technician jobs over time
Dental laboratory technician job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 23,338 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 21,048 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 23,550 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 23,563 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 24,349 | 0.01% |
Average dental laboratory technician salary over time
Dental laboratory technician salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $55,271 | $26.57 | +1.9% |
| 2024 | $54,261 | $26.09 | +2.2% |
| 2023 | $53,079 | $25.52 | +4.6% |
| 2022 | $50,756 | $24.40 | +2.6% |
| 2021 | $49,457 | $23.78 | +1.3% |
Dental laboratory technician jobs by state
Most common states for dental laboratory technicians
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | 739,795 | 165 | 22% |
| 2 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 179 | 21% |
| 3 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 236 | 18% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,135 | 17% |
| 5 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 972 | 17% |
| 6 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 548 | 17% |
| 7 | Vermont | 623,657 | 97 | 16% |
| 8 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 112 | 15% |
| 9 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,028 | 14% |
| 10 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 758 | 14% |
| 11 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 191 | 14% |
| 12 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 747 | 13% |
| 13 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 138 | 13% |
| 14 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 88 | 13% |
| 15 | Florida | 20,984,400 | 2,541 | 12% |
| 16 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 345 | 12% |
| 17 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 1,134 | 11% |
| 18 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 1,087 | 11% |
| 19 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 760 | 11% |
| 20 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 691 | 11% |
Most common cities for dental laboratory technicians
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Athens | 2 | 8% | $47,439 |
| 2 | Farmington | 2 | 8% | $68,805 |
| 3 | Freeport | 2 | 8% | $60,142 |
| 4 | Wyoming | 4 | 5% | $68,342 |
| 5 | Sun City | 2 | 5% | $54,665 |
| 6 | Allen Park | 1 | 4% | $71,183 |
| 7 | Jonesboro | 2 | 3% | $56,129 |
| 8 | Gainesville | 2 | 2% | $52,426 |
| 9 | Lansing | 2 | 2% | $69,861 |
| 10 | Roseville | 2 | 2% | $52,624 |
| 11 | Springfield | 2 | 2% | $57,506 |
| 12 | Jacksonville | 11 | 1% | $52,744 |
| 13 | Albany | 1 | 1% | $57,244 |
| 14 | Atlanta | 2 | 0% | $58,135 |
Dental Laboratory Technician job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of dental laboratory technician experts
Palm Beach State College
The University of New Hampshire's Central Science
What type of skills will young Dental Laboratory Technicians need?
Dr. Alexandra Gorgevska Ph.D.: Graduates [of all ages] will continue to need hands-on skills, the ability to work both in the group and individual settings, and, most importantly, be curious and teachable. Soft skills have taken on greater importance over the years, so we provide ongoing events for outreach, scientific communication, interview preparation, etc., to help provide students with ways to improve and grow their soft skills.
We are seeing scientific communications transitioning from in-person to remote settings, and our students are excelling at rising to the challenges. South Florida has a diverse life science career field, and our students continue to be well prepared to enter the job market and succeed in their career paths.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Dental Laboratory Technicians?
Glen P. Miller: Yes, there will be many enduring impacts. Office spaces and buildings will be devalued somewhat, while remote work and virtual meetings have become and will remain important. In chemistry and tangential fields, there will always be a need for in-person work in specialized laboratories, but the manner in which we communicate results internally and externally has changed. There will be less emphasis on in-person communication and a greater emphasis on remote and electronic communication, including email and video reports/presentations. Business travel will drop while skills that enable effective electronic communication will play an even larger role than they already do. Writing skills, including but not limited to technical writing, will become an increasingly valued characteristic of top employees. An ability to speak in a clear, articulate manner will also be prized. None of this, however, supersedes the need for graduates with a robust background in chemistry and a strong work ethic to match.
How do you envision technology impacting Dental Laboratory Technicians in the next 5 years?
Glen P. Miller: The chemistry field is constantly impacted by advancements in scientific instrumentation, hardware, and software, especially those that cut across adjacent fields like biology and materials science. Job seekers should be well-grounded in current technologies while aware of recent developments and trends.